At least seven people have died and 11 injured following a UPS plane crash in America. The large cargo plane crashed and exploded during take-off on at around 5.15pm on Tuesday, November 5.
UPS Flight 2976 erupted into a fireball near Louisville International Airport in Kentucky. Video and pictures showed flames engulfing at least two businesses near the airport, which handles nearly five million passengers every year, reports the Mirror.
Officials have confirmed seven deaths so far but have warned that number is expected to rise. It is unclear whether that death toll includes the three crew members who were onboard the plane and are feared dead.
Eleven other people are have been injured and are being treated in hospital – but local officials say that figure is also likely to rise. Residents living within five miles of the airport were urged to stay indoors as firefighters tackled the huge blaze.
Governor of Kentucky, Andy Beshear, had said: “Right now we believe we have at least seven fatalities, though I believe that number is going to get larger.
“We have at least 11 injuries, some of them very significant.
“Anybody who has seen the images, the video, knows how violent this crash is.”
A nearby repair shop said the plane crashed “just 500 feet away from our business”.
An employee at Kentucky Truck Parts & Service filmed the chaos outside the store in the immediate aftermath of the crash.
The shop said: “Thank God our team and employees are alive, but many of our neighbours and people in the surrounding area were hurt, and properties were badly damaged.”
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